Pharmacognostic and Phytochemical Screening of Datura stramonium by TLC and GC-MS: A Forensic Approach

Baljeet Yadav^1* , Anu Singla² , Neeharika Srivastava¹  and Pawan Gupta²

¹Department of Forensic Science, GD Goenka University, Gurugram, India, 122004

²Institute of Forensic Science, Bundelkhand University, Uttar Pradesh, India, 284128

Corresponding Author E-mail: baljeet291090@rediffmail.com

Abstract: Forensic Botany helps in linking the location, type of crime, revealing modus Operandi, culprit as well as victim by various circumstantial facts. In the study, Datura stramonium was considered as major plant of Bundelkhand region encountered in poisoning cases in criminal Investigations. Datura plant was identified and its fresh leaves were washed to remove dirt, stored at 4⁰C and were subjected to microscopic examination for botanical features, preliminary screening for alkaloids identification and chromatographic techniques such as TLC and GCMS for qualitative analysis of toxins present in the plant. The result showed that all techniques applied are suitable to identify the plant through botanical derived evidences such as leaf traces, resins, or plant extracts during the crime scene investigations. GCMS technique identified the main toxins and resulted that it contains high concentration of hyoscine and very fatal when administered eventually causes death.

Keywords: Datura Stramonium; Forensic Toxicology; GC-MS; Phytochemicals; TLC

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